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November 13, 2009 - Columbus, United States - Anonymous
Question: I was wondering why, on the five decade rosary diagram page, it instructs us to pray the Glory Be on the "next single bead", yet in the diagram itself, the line for the Glory Be points to the chain rather than the next single bead. The First Mystery, Our Father shows a line pointing to the next single bead, so could you straighten out the confusion for me?
Answer: What a good question. Some instructions on how to pray the Rosary indicate that the Glory Be (then the Fatima Prayer) are to be prayed on the chain between the last Hail Mary bead and the next single bead. Meanwhile, there are other instructions out there that indicate the Glory Be is to be prayed on the next single bead - on which the next Rosary Mystery is announced and the Our Father is prayed. The important thing is that, either way, the order of prayers in fact remains the same.

When I began beading rosaries, I was naturally inclined to include distinct beads for the 'Glory Be' and Fatima prayers, in order to avoid the kind of confusion you've experienced, and also to help those learning the Rosary to know exactly where to pray these two prayers. Please see a diagram of my one-decade rosary design, with comments, here.

November 4, 2009 – Ottawa, Canada - Anonymous
Question: Hi, I was wondering why when we pray using a Rosary, we are praying to Mary and God instead of God and His Son Jesus?

Answer: Thanks for your excellent question. The Rosary, a Marian prayer, is among the finest forms of Christian prayer – perhaps second only to the Liturgy (Holy Mass). In the Rosary, we are indeed praying not only to Mary and God the Father, but to their Son Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit. (It only makes sense that we begin every Rosary with the Apostle's Creed – the prayer, dating back to or close to the time of the Apostles, that states exactly what we, as Christians, believe. We pray to the Father with the Rosary's 6 Lord's Prayer's. We pray to Jesus with its 5 Fatima prayers – which Mary asked us to pray to Jesus as part of the Rosary, during her famous apparitions in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. And in the Rosary, we also pray to the glorious Trinity - Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit - with 6 Glory Be prayers. While there are a whopping 53 Hail Mary prayers in a 5-decade Rosary, the central "hinge" – as Pope John Paul II called it – on which every HM prayer hangs is the powerful & holy name of Jesus!)

Of course, saying all these prayers is only half of praying the Rosary: accompanying our prayers is our contemplation of the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful & Glorious Mysteries, i.e. salvation events in the life of Christ, of which Mary was the closest & most faithful & loving witness! Pope John Paul II described the Rosary as a way of "contemplating Christ at the school of Mary".

So, why do Christians pray to Mary in the Rosary? Because she, whom both the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth greeted/hailed as "full of grace", is with her Son, Jesus, in Heaven. There, Mary is in an unsurpassed position to intercede with Her Son for our needs. Under Jesus Christ the King, Mary reigns as the Queen Mother of Heaven and of Earth, Queen of the Angels and Queen of All Saints. After all, it was from Mary’s flesh that God became a man, and it was to her love & care that the Father entrusted His Son in order to accomplish our salvation! Just as the first woman, Eve, is the mother of all humankind (and from whom we, in our flesh, have inherited Original Sin and death), Mary is the spiritual mother of all Christians (from whom we, in the Holy Spirit, have inherited the Christian life of grace and the eternal joy of Heaven). Just as, on a human level, we recognize the lasting love and influence that a good mother has with her son, so much more do we acknowledge Mary’s intercessory power with Jesus to help every one of her spiritual children (who asks her help) in the Church! The second half of the Hail Mary prayer says "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death".

During one of Mary’s 1858 apparitions to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, the two actually prayed the Rosary together. Bernadette described that each had her own set of 5-decade rosary beads, which they passed through their fingers in time with each other. A very interesting detail reported by Bernadette is that Mary did not speak (but only smiled during) the Our Father and Hail Mary prayers. However, Mary did speak the Glory Be prayers with Bernadette. Why? As biographer Abbe Francois Trochu stated in his book Saint Bernadette Soubirous, "This last detail, which the little one in her ignorance could not have invented, reveals an accurate and deep theological truth. The Gloria (Glory Be), which is a hymn of praise to the Adorable Trinity, and is Heaven's Canticle, is indeed the only part of the Rosary suitable for Her" (Mary)..."The Pater" (Our Father) "is the prayer of needy mortals, tempted and sinful, on their journey to the Fatherland; as for the Ave," (Hail Mary) "the Angels greeting, this could be used only by the visionary," (Bernadette) "as the Apparition had no need to greet her own self." Love this story!

October 23, 2009 – Ramapuram, India - Fr. Raju Mathew MST
Comment: Your website is like a hand book on Rosary for those who search for the origin, development and other aspects of Rosary. Congratulations to the web master and the team.

September 22, 2009 – Ireland - Mary S.
Story to share: I got my rosary package and have commenced my living rosary decade. I am going to look at promoting it among my friends and family. I will pray further about this. Thank you so much.

August 2, 2009 – Endicott, United States - Anonymous
Comment: Sometimes it feels like all around me has turned dark, then I turn to the Rosary and it eases my burdens, and little by little things start to take place.
Story to share: One day I went to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. My heart was heavy that day. I gave her a dollar - put it under a rock beside her. That's all I had on me at the time. I had a heart to heart talk with her about gambling - how it was wrong but we had no choice, and hold on to hope for we were struggling. I asked her to make something good happen...It may take a long time for prayers to be answered, but I realized that...the closer you are to [God], your crosses in life will be also carried by him to lighten your load. Pray, pray the Rosary for God loves you very much. [Make]...time for Him every day. Show Him that you appreciate all the things he has given you. God bless you all.

July 7, 2009 – Khartoum, Sudan, northeast Africa - Anonymous
Comment: Hi, may the grace of God be with u and all of us. I need to contact you dear brothers and sisters through Jesus.
Story to share: We live in one of the Muslim countries which is impossible to take care our prayer activities, but it's God's will for us to continue and practice our prayers. We pray the Rosary every Tuesday. We have a program. We are about 30 young peaople and GOD is here to support us and our Mother Mary.
Request: So we want your support also, send us rosaries cards to help us immprove our faith and to be good Christians. We need your help.
Answer: Sorry, we do not distribute free rosaries or rosary cards, but you may find others that do, here.

July 3, 2009 – Haz-Zabbar, Malta - Anonymous
Question: I noticed that some statues of Our Lady of Lourdes present a Rosary with 6 decades, how is that?
Answer: coming soon!

June 17, 2009 – Red Oak, UK…and Denmark! - Anonymous
Question: Do you have free rosaries?
Answer: No, sorry. But you can find distributors of free rosaries here!

May 20, 2009 – United States - Anonymous
Comment: Hi, you have a great site! Thanks!

April 28, 2009 – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, north of Australia - Anonymous
Story to Share: I am a Catholic but I dont know the History of Catholic church,Rosary, origin of Rosary and the secret of the Rosary. I just renewed my life last month within my Catholic church.And I saw the Power of the Rosary and the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ works in my life after 40 days of Sacrifices within the Lenten season, which we sacrifice ourself (Youths) and we break through the Brick Wall of Talasea(my place)and we bring Peace into the Communities of Talasea and lots of young youths surrendered their Lives to Christ Through the Power of the Holy Spirit acts upon the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ. Thank you Thats all I want to share with you God Bless you All
Question: Is there some free rosaries and "Secret of the Rosary,What is the Rosary and How to say the Rosary"and others Booklets?
Answer: You can find distributors of free rosaries here! Here is an online source for free pamphlets on How to Pray the Rosary.

September 5, 2008 – South Africa - Anonymous
Comment: great work great site thanks bookmark you

September 5, 2008 – Rwanda, East Central Africa - Anonymous
Comment: interesting site thx see later

September 1, 2008 – Guinea, West Africa - Anonymous
Comment: i like your site thanks see u

September 1, 2008 – South Korea - Anonymous
Comment: nice work sweet site thanks =_)

September 1, 2008 – Yemen, Southwest Asia - Anonymous
Comment: interesting site thanks bookmark you

September 1, 2008 – Australia - Anonymous
Comment: Great site thanks

August 28, 2008 – Uzbekistan, central Asia - Anonymous
Comment: Cool site thx ==)

August 4, 2008 – Jamaica - Anonymous
Comment: Interesting posts thx.

August 4, 2008 – Estonia, Northern Europe - Anonymous
Comment: Cool site, nice work man, thx.

August 4, 2008 – Central African Republlic - Anonymous
Comment: Interesting site thanks.

August 4, 2008 – Benin, West Africa - Anonymous
Comment: Hi, great site, nice work, thanks.

July 23, 2008 – Mississauga, Ontario, Canada - Anonymous
Comment: What a beautiful site! The Rosary for me is my favourite prayer. If you truly immerse yourself in the mysteries, the truth unfolds itself. We must go thru Our Blessed Mother Mary for intercession. Our Blessed Mother Mary protects all who are devoted to her. How I wish I could purchase one of your beautiful rosaries. I hope you find a way to do it online, they are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Keep up the blessed work.

June 11, 2007 - Sun City Center, Florida, U.S.A. - Anonymous
Story to share: PRAYING THE ROSARY FROM SCRIPTURE: As a result of our pilgrimage to Fatima and Medjugorje last year, I convinced my husband to collate quotes from Scripture to help us pray the family rosary more from the heart and less by rote. He did that and it has so helped us that we want to share it free of charge with all. Simply download it from:

Faith Web's On-line Scriptural Rosary

He has since had it approved by the Censor of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, where we now live. We pray that it helps you as much as it has us. And if it does, feel free to pass it on.
Response: Thanks so much for sharing! May God continue to bless you!

April 16, 2007 - Melbourne, Australia - Christine
Question: Please help [me] to get this book Discover the Power of the Rosary, living proof of the Rosary power...can you help me, please.
Answer: Sorry, we're not aware of any book with this title, and cannot be of much help since you did not provide further information such as the author's name. Although this site is not officially selling books on the Rosary yet, we do have many 'in stock', including:
- 101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary (Sr. Patricia Proctor)
- Holy Rosary (St. Josemaria Escriva)
- Perpetual Angelus: as the Saints Pray the Rosary (Cessario)
- Rosary: Mysteries, Meditation and the Telling of the Beads
(Kevin Orlin Johnson)
- Speak Lord, I am Listening: a Rosary Book (Christine Haapala)
- The Devotion of the Holy Rosary and the Five Scapulars (Michael Muller)
- The Essential Rosary (Caryll Houselander)
- The Luminous Mysteries: Biblical Reflections on the Life of Christ
(Tim Gray)
- The Rosary: Chain of Hope (Fr. Benedict Groeschel)
- The Rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory (Susan Tassone)
- The Rosary of Our Lady (Romano Guardini)
- The Secret of the Rosary (St. Louis de Montfort)
etc., etc...
There is such a wealth of helpful, inspirational rosary books out there! Best wishes for finding your book. If anyone else knows of it, feel free to contact us via the 'Have your say' button.

February 23, 2007 - Tuticorin, India - Anonymous
Question: TO JESUS THRO MARY ...WHY ???? Plz share more about this in our group or mail me arulforyou@yahoo.com.
Answer: Here's a link with a good explanation of this concept, To Jesus through Mary. It is excerpted from St. Louis de Montfort's writings.
Comment: I like your website so much. Wonderful work of God.
Response: Thank you! And thanks for sharing.
Story to share: I have a Group for Mother Mary children. Plz join with us and share: http://www.geocities.com/mary_calls."

January 30, 2007 - Ottawa, Canada - Anonymous
Question:  Where is the store in Ottawa, that we can visit to buy rosaries. I live in Ottawa and am looking for a catholic store to buy rosaries, bible, etc. Prefer to visualize and touch items before buying.
Answer:  Hail-Mary-Rosaries.com is a home-based business, and so does not yet sell in any store(s). Anyone living in or visiting the Ottawa area would be most welcome to view the rosaries in person. Just send an e-mail to 'hmrosaries@hotmail.com' to make an appointment. Every order comes with a free copy of St. Louis de Montfort's book The Secret of the Rosary, as well as an illustrated instructional booklet on how to pray the Holy Rosary. I also have many dozens of excellent Catholic books, and a very few Bibles (not yet pictured on the website) available for purchase.
A fellow anonymous visitor from Ottawa submitted the following comment on February 7, 2009: "Someone was asking about a place to buy rosaries in Ottawa. St. Patrick's Basilica on Kent St. (and Nepean St.) has a very good (often excellent) selection of rosaries and books. The store is in the basement of the church. I highly recommend it."

November 30, 2006 - Tarlac City, Philippines - Anonymous
Question: Hello there! I visited the Anointing Oil page and I was just curious about this oil. I have a little Catechism, meaning, I know that Holy Oils are those blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday masses called Chrism Mass wherein Oils used in the Sacraments by the clergy are blessed on that day. I am just asking to which category these Anointing Oils belong? Are they the same ones blessed by the Bishop? When does one use these oils?
Answer:  Thank you for this question! No, the anointing oil that Hail-Mary-Rosaries.com will carry is not obtained from a Holy Thursday Chrism Mass. However, like the Church oils, it is pure olive oil. The unblessed oil which will be available from this website (and from some Christian/Catholic stores) is infused with biblical aromatics such as frankincense, myrrh, spikenard, etc. You must take it to your priest or bishop for a distinct blessing, according to how you intend to personally use it - usually to bless a loved one by tracing the oil in the Sign of the Cross on his/her forehead and saying a brief, heartfelt prayer (such as "I bless you, Name, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"...then... "May you have a restful sleep!" OR "May God keep you safe today, and fill your heart with His peace and love").
[What are the Church oils? Every year just before Easter, Bishops around the world consecrate three types of oils at the 'Chrism Mass' on Holy Thursday (the day before Good Friday). These oils are then distributed to constituent parishes for priests to use during the coming year. The first, the 'Oil of Catechumens', is used to anoint the faithful just before they receive the Sacrament of Baptism. The second, the 'Sacred Chrism' oil (to which very aromatic balsam is added), is used to anoint the newly baptized, and during the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders, as well as to consecrate churches, altars, etc., even kings! And the third, the Church's 'Oil of the Sick', is used for the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick / Dying (used to be called 'Last Rites'). Any oil that Catholic parishes have left over at the end of each year is specially burned, and replaced with a fresh supply at Easter.]


November 12, 2006 - Kanata, Canada - Steph
Comment: Lovely site! I think it's a great idea.